Seven-Point Story Structure: Unlock a Stronger, More Focused Plot
Does story structure sound like Latin to you? Perhaps too vague and abstract. Well, because it is. There is no answer on how to plot your story, but there are methods. May I present the seven-point story structure? The seven-point story structure is a simple and focused outline technique that helps you plan your story. With only seven simple steps, you are ready to start writing that book.
Continue reading to learn what the seven-point story structure is, the story structure in action, why it works, the importance of the pinch point, and how to apply the structure to your story.
What Is the Seven-Point Story Structure?
The seven-point story structure is a storytelling technique. It is a guide that helps you craft a well-paced and engaging narrative. The seven-point story structure is similar to other structures, such as the three-act structure. What makes the seven-point structure different is that it offers more steps. You can place more plot points that help you navigate the journey to the desired resolution. In addition, you can keep momentum by placing events that steal the readers’ attention and make them want to find out what happens next.
The story structure also encourages writers to begin outlining the resolution. You start by figuring out how the story ends and then work your way backwards to how it started. Using that method makes it easier to keep a red thread. You are almost playing a game of cause and effect by constantly asking yourself, “Why did this happen?”
The Seven Key Points of the Seven-Point Story Structure
- Hook: The starting point where you introduce your protagonist’s ordinary life.
- Plot Point 1: The inciting incident. The transition from the protagonist’s ordinary life to adventure.
- Pinch Point 1: The situation escalates, and the protagonist has to face challenges and conflicts.
- Mid Point: A pivotal moment where the protagonist moves from reaction to action, shifting the story’s direction.
- Pinch Point 2: The story’s central conflict turns for the worse, creating a major setback for the protagonist.
- Plot Point 2: The climax of the story. This is where the protagonist learns something that helps them resolve the central conflict.
- Resolution: The central conflict is solved, and the protagonist reaches their goal or learns a valuable lesson.
Examples of the Seven-Point Story Structure in Popular Books
We see the seven-point story structure in many different types of media. In literature, a perfect example is Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
- Hook: Percy Jackson is a troubled kid living with his mother and abusive stepfather.
- Plot Point 1: Percy discovers he’s a demigod and is taken to Camp Half-Blood for protection.
- Pinch Point 1: Percy faces multiple monster attacks while trying to fit into the new world of gods and monsters.
- Midpoint: Percy accepts his quest to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt to prevent war among the gods.
- Pinch Point 2: Betrayal from someone he trusted makes his mission even more dangerous.
- Plot Point 2: Percy confronts Ares and uncovers the real mastermind behind the theft.
- Resolution: Percy returns the bolt, prevents war, and gains newfound confidence in his identity.
Why the Seven-Point Story Structure Keeps Readers Hooked
The seven-point structure works because it is an easy guide to follow. You, as the writer, know how your story should start and what needs to happen to get to the desired ending when you begin planning your resolution. Your entire plot moves with intention, every scene has a purpose, and you do not have to re-write as much in the editing phase.
For many, that alone is a good enough reason to choose the seven-point story structure as an outline. However, this structure also helps you keep your readers interested because every point builds on the one before it. There is a chain of reactions going through the story, only adding to the drama.
For example, A happens, which leads to B. Because B happens, C follows naturally. As a consequence, there is a connection throughout the story.
Furthermore, the reason it is highly popular is as I mentioned. The structure helps keep momentum in the story because there are plot points placed evenly throughout the narrative. Unlike the three-act story structure that has only three main stages, the seven-point structure has seven. All of those beats are contributing to preventing the storyline from falling flat and the middle from becoming uneventful.
The Importance of Pinch Points in Storytelling
You know that feeling when you are writing and you just know that you cannot possibly keep this in the manuscript. You feel like you are dragging the story instead of telling it. That is why a solid pinch point is a lifesaver.
A pinch point is an event that focuses a reaction or disturbs the protagonist. It often comes from external forces such as the antagonist. In other words, the pinch point is a reminder of the cloud of thread looming over the hero’s horizon.
The pinch point is when things get real for the protagonist. The stakes rise and tension builds. They are forced to face the conflict head-on. The phrase itself is self-explanatory. It is a pressure point of your story. Without those moments, the story can feel aimless. However, with the pinch point, the protagonist is one step closer to fully facing their fear.
How to Apply the Seven-Point Story Structure to Your Own Writing
Start with the resolution: Think of how your story ends. Do the protagonists reach their goal, or do they fail? Do you want something bittersweet? It may be easier to work your way back to how it started rather than starting with the beginning.
Work back to connect the dots: When you already know how it ends, plot holes can be noticed more easily. With that knowledge, you can craft a much more meaningful plot. You can also cut out scenes that do not serve the plot or character development. A great rule to follow: If you remove a scene or character, does the climax still happen the same way? If yes, that scene or character might not be necessary.
Final thoughts
The seven-point story structure is a relatively simple story structure to understand. Not only that, but it comes with other advantages such as helping you figure out how the ending came to be, keeping a red thread throughout the story, and keeping the momentum.
I have created this simple seven-point story structure template that guides you from beginning to end on how you can outline your story with this story structure for FREE.
